POLICE are planning a crackdown on kerb-crawlers in a bid to drive prostitutes from the streets of Deeplish.

From Monday, a team of 10 uniformed and undercover officers will be sent out with orders to issue every offender with a court summons.

It will be a 'name and shame' policy. There will be no verbal warnings. They will all appear before magistrates on 7 July and could be fined up to £2,000.

Inspector Chris Hill says the week-long drive - code-named Operation Senta - was sparked by residents, who have been calling for action to stop prostitutes working outside their homes.

The problem was first highlighted last June when peaceful vigilantes, led by the Deeplish Action Group, marched through the streets demanding police action.

Inspector Hill said: "It has been evident the problem is on the increase.

"But we realise that the prostitutes are the victims rather than offenders, which is why we are targeting the kerb-crawlers.

"Although there are laws against prostitution, the women will often be forced to go back to work to pay court fines and they have often asked for our help because they keep getting attacked and robbed."

He added: "These kerb-crawlers know what they're doing, but do their family, friends and bosses?

"Our message is clear: whoever they are, ordinary men on the street or successful businessmen, they will get no verbal warnings. They will go to court on 7 July and will be named and shamed if found guilty."

Inspector Hill added: "When I first came here I was aware there was a problem with prostitutes around the Richard Street area and during the summer the locals got together and formed the Deeplish Action Group.

"Last year there was a lot of adverse publicity, with residents telling us if we didn't do something they would as it was not right for the street workers to be in residential areas."

The drive against kerb-crawlers will continue even when Operation Senta ends. After that, perpetrators will get warning letters, but if they persist they will be fined, possibly receive anti-social behaviour orders or even have their cars confiscated.

Prostitutes will be prosecuted if they continue to work in residential areas, although police are also looking into the possibility of prostitution 'tolerance zones' similar to those operated in Liverpool.

Operation Senta has gained full backing from Mohammed Shafiq, the chairman of Deeplish Action Group and vice-chairman of the local area forum.

He said: "Like the police, we also recognise the prostitutes are victims of drug pushers, pimps and kerb-crawlers.

"We have been calling for the police to take action for a long time, so we absolutely support the move."